Quick Facts
Biography
Maurice Herman Finkel (1888-1949) was a Yiddish theater performer and later an architect.
Born in Basarabia (Romania), Maurice was involved with Yiddish theater in New York City where he befriended Paul Muni and Paul Robeson.
He received an architecture degree from Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in Manhattan, New York in 1913.
His architecture career in Michigan began in 1915 and his Detroit-based firm designed over 200 structures; from apartment buildings and homes, like the famous and infamous Ossian Sweet House in Detroit, to a great variety of commercial and entertainment buildings, including four theaters.
He designed two theaters in Detroit, the 1,100 seat Littman-Peoples Theater, later Goldcoast Theater opened in 1927 (now closed) and the 1,800 seat Tuxedo Theater opened in 1927 (now demolished). His most spectacular theater is the 1,700 seat Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which opened in 1928 and is still operating as of 2005. His Michigan Theatre in Jackson, Michigan, opened in 1930, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is undergoing renovations as of 2005.
He is the father of TV sports producer, and three time Emmy winner, George Finkel.